The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COC)

The combined oral contraceptive pill is usually just called “the pill”. It contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally in their ovaries.

When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that fewer than one woman in 100 who use the combined pill as contraception will get pregnant in one year. Other methods, such as the IUD, implant and injection, are more effective.

The usual way to take the pill is to take one every day for 21 days, then stop for seven days, and during this week you have a period-type bleed. You start taking the pill again after seven days.

You need to take the pill at around the same time every day. You could get pregnant if you don’t do this, or if you miss a pill, or vomit or have severe diarrhoea.

Some medicines may make the pill less effective. Check with your doctor if you’re taking any other tablets.

If you have heavy periods or painful periods, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or endometriosis the combined pill may help.

Minor side effects include mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches.

There is no evidence that the pill makes women gain weight.

There’s a very low risk of serious side effects, such as blood clots and cervical cancer.

The combined pill is not suitable for women over 35 who smoke, or women with certain medical conditions.

The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using a condom as well will help to protect you against STIs.

Customer Notice

We are having a new phone installed on Friday 5th August. This should not affect your ability to contact the Surgery as the switch over should be seamless. Please bear with us if you experience any issues.

Kind regards,

168 Medical Group

Surgery Closure

Due to a national problem with our clinical system, we are unable to open the surgery for the remainder of the afternoon (Friday 26th May).

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 999. If you have an non-emergency query, please call 111.

Thank you for your patience.

askmyGP is currently offline

Unfortunately, our askmyGP service will be offline today – if you have an urgent request, you will need to call the surgery on the below number.

We have an increased demand on our services and are therefore only able to offer urgent appointments. We are triaging all requests and prioritising urgent requests first. 

Please call the surgery to make an appointment on 01934 624 242.

Note To Our Patients

All of our clinicians are on a training session this afternoon, therefore we are only treating patients with an urgent medical need.

askmyGP will reopen tomorrow (22/03) at 8am.